On 14th August 2010 (Saturday), the Young Adults would be away in YWCA, Fort Canning Lodge for Christianity Explored Day Away! They would be learning and discussing about 4 different topics- The Church, Prayer, The Holy Spirit and The Bible. If you have any young adults who are interested, please do not hesitate to contact Agnes @9758 2710 or Sharon @9107 4485.

Please keep the participants in prayer!!

See you here!!!

August 9 is the National Day so this month’s prayer concerns are focused on our nation:

1.  Repent of self-sufficiency and pride on behalf of our nation and acknowledge that it is God who established us as a sovereign nation and has blessed us.

2.  God’s people unite in Christ Jesus, to rise up in prayer, be an example and lead our nation to bless, love and serve the nations around us.

3.  Transform Singapore to be a nation where joy abounds and her people will love the Lord, serve and care for others in practical ways.

4.  The Church in Singapore will embrace and fulfill her destiny as a centre of Christian witness to the nations, especially in Asia. Hearts to be filled with compassion for the lost.

5.  Churches in Singapore will be united in praying for and reaching the nations for Christ through growth in God’s Word and obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

6.  God-fearing leaders to govern with godly principles and lead with God’s wisdom.

7.  God’s people to rise up and pray regularly for our Government & Leadership.

8.  Salvation of our leaders, and faith and courage to do the LORD’s bidding for those who are God’s children.

The Young Adults (YA) stayed together at the Aranda Country Club for 3days/2nites for their first Team Building Program. The objective was to foster closer working ties amongst the YA, youth leaders and youth interns. Each segment was accompanied by different experiential learning to further impact each lesson. The leaders thoroughly enjoyed themselves and everyone echoed their enthusiasm for more Team Building Events next year.
David, a youth leader and Winnie, a young adult leader share their experience.

________________________________________________________________________
The Team Building was a fruitful and fun-filled one for the young adult leaders. Through the training sessions by Pastor Chua, I learnt the ingredients of teamwork, namely Goals, Roles, Processes and Relationships (GRPR). I learnt that it is necessary to have GRPR in our decision-making processes as a team as it leads us to our desired outcomes. We also played games which were designed to help us identify if GRPR was incorporated. I especially enjoyed the outdoor beach games for the element of adventure and surprise. While we were to apply what we have learnt, water that was splashed at us and objects that were used to distract us in the course of the game were simulations of challenges when we work as a team. The games definitely strengthened our communication and team dynamics. Thank God for the valuable learning we took home, as well as the fellowship we had and the closer bonds forged.

Winnie
_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
I thank God for Pastor Chua and Aunty Agnes for making this YA Team Building become a reality. I am sure that the YA leaders had longed for such a program where they could have a time of learning and fellowshipping together. Even though the duration of the camp was merely two days, the things we have learnt will definitely last us for a lifetime.

I believe that one of the key ideas that was portrayed in this short span of time was the importance of thinking out of the box. In order to be effective leaders, we must not be restrained to a standard way of thinking all the time. If we have not been able to succeed in a particular area of our ministry, it might be time to put aside the old system of things and get fresh ideas from people who have successfully done it.

The highlight of this retreat was the experiential learning. Most of the teachings were aptly coupled with activities or icebreakers so that the concepts taught could be better embedded into our minds. I commend Pastor Chua and Aunty Agnes for integrating fun and learning to make this team building experience a joyful and memorable one. We look forward to the next session.

David

_________________________________________________________________________ The leaders drew out what they hope to see in the young adults ministry.

Since the Batam Leadership Strategic Plannning Retreat held in Sep 2009, the following has been done:

1. We have met with the leaders of all congregations to communicate with them the changes from the SWORD acronym to WRPF and the other decisions made during the Batam retreat.
2. We have done a lot of ground work to prepare the youth and adult congregations for the INTEGRATED SERVICE. This included communication with the youth exco, the young adults, the youth cell leaders, the youth members, the main church, the worship exco of both services, the adult cell leaders, and main congregation. The service was launched in May rather than in August. The feedback has generally been good, but there remains concern for the Sec 1 and Sec 2 which we are still monitoring. We also keep records of visitors, sms to them, and keep track of them.
3. We began monthly GAP prayer meetings on the last Friday of all months except June and December. They are to reinforce the trait “PRAYER- INTIMACY AND INTERCESSORY”.  The attendance is average 60 and percentage wise this is good.
4. We have included a follow-up event to the main evangelistic event of the first half of the year, ie, the Alpha Course. We held a barbecue where invited are the graduates, current and past.
5. Starting in January we have begun to communicate to the church the WRPF product traits of a disciple. We have done this through various means: several sermon series (WRPF, prayer series, revival series, missions, Just Walk Across the Room); large placards/banners on the wall, book marks, church camp theme, bulletin and website articles; cell training meetings; doing the Simple Church book among the staff. The result is growing awareness of the kind of disciple WRPF is seeking to make.
6. We tweaked the product so that traits become measurable. We tweaked the process to make it simpler to communicate: WIN-BUILD-SEND. We designed programs and structured courses which are now being developed and written out for use in teaching.
7. The WRPF cells restructuring, re-equipping, and re-focusing has been planned and shared with the leadership, both elders, pastors and cells. The retooling has begun on Friday the 9^th. The cell structure will be flatter; the cell leaders and members will be re-equipped and learn a new philosophy of ministry; and the new focus on becoming a disciple making church will be established.

God is actively at work in our midst and he gives grace to adjust to needed changes.

KENNY CHEE

Invitation made easy!

You are 2 steps away from inviting your young adult friends on the coolest journey ever! You can send the e-invite to your friends by:
1. Clicking on the above picture (which will lead you to another window)
2. Copy and paste the http address into your email to your friends.
It is this simple!

It was a refreshing ushers’ outing even though only 10 came for this walk. The weather was fantastic as just a day earlier, Singapore experienced thunderstorm and floods. We walked about three kilometres in 90 minutes and enjoyed God’s creation with its flowers, squirrels, birds and the fresh air. It is wonderful to pause, to slow down, to ponder in the midst of our fast paced life in Singapore. Many of us were first time taking the walk. We were pleasantly surprised that there are still places we have yet to explore in Singapore. I hope the next outing we will see more participants and perhaps the younger ones can suggest to us want we can do? Example: a one day during trip to JB? -Report by Sunny Chong, usher dept head.

EDUCATING AND EQUIPPING FOR CHANGE (2EC):

-         Pray that all the cell members will make their way there and be ready to unlearn old ways and learn new ways.

-         Ps Chua and Ps Kenny and all cell leaders as they meet weekly for 10 weeks

-         Grace on the cells to change; and corporate morale and hope to rise.

CHRISTIANITY EXPLORED

-         For pre believers to come and be saved when invited by our young adults

-         That it will increase sense of identity among young adults and strengthen the bonds of fellowship among them.

-         For Agnes and team

LEADERSHIP

-Continued unity and focus and integrity among Board members and pastors

-For all the pastors and missionaries

-For all cell leaders: juggling work, family and faith.

WORSHIP SERVICE

-new musicians and singers and sound/visual techies needed

-growth in technical and spiritual areas for on stage and off stage volunteers

-the preaching of the Word and the people to be ready to respond

-transformation of lives, marriages, families, healing and wholeness, revival

S.T.A.R. PROGRAM

-Pray for David, Marcus, Sarah, Mingze as they undergo the 6 week spiritual training program for those in between semesters in their studies. Pastor Chua to impart Word and life and to bond with them.

YOUTH CELLS

-For special bonding and friendships and spiritual growth and discipleship in the newly arranged cells

-For cell leaders to have the wisdom, patience, knowledge and love for the young cell members and to disciple them

-For identity as youth to be strong and healthy, and inter-generational learning to take place in integrated services

-For young people to to experience God’s unconditional love, and grow in love for one another and for the lost.